Israeli forces have withdrawn from one Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank, but remain entrenched in another camp they have occupied since early Thursday.

Troops pulled out of Jenin Saturday, but remain positioned nearby. Israeli forces are still in Balata refugee camp farther north, near Nablus. Israeli officials have offered no explanation for the withdrawal, although the French news agency quotes a spokesman as saying that troops left after they completed what he called "the first stage in their activity" in the Jenin camp.

The pullout came hours after the Palestinian Authority said there would be no talks with Israel until troops withdraw from both refugee camps. A Palestinian official Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, says all security and political meetings have been suspended. Security officials from the two sides held several meetings recently in an effort to halt violence in the region.

Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopters entered the camps Thursday, setting off fighting that killed at least 20 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers. More than 130 Palestinians have wounded, including civilians. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is calling for international action to stop the Israeli assaults.

The incursions are the first into refugee camps since the current Palestinian uprising began more than 17 months ago. The Israeli army says the Jenin and Balata camps have been safe havens for terrorists attacking Israel.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man identified as a member of the militant Hamas group. A statement by the Hamas military wing said the man was trying to trying to plant a bomb. Also in Gaza, a Palestinian girl died of wounds received last month during an attack by Israeli combat helicopters.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version